Automatic ignition circuit breaker



July 22, 1941. K, L 2,249,893

AUTOMATIC IGNITION CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Jan 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a1 M IQ Z7 July 22, 1941. K. A. GILL 9 3.

AUTOMATIC IGNITION CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Jan. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G.76 h I I Q 74 76 Q/V/ 9 I Patented July 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFEQE Kenneth A. Gill, Hunter, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to Harold H.Van Loan, Hunter, N. Y.

Application January 2, 1940, Serial No. 312,113

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an automatic ignition circuit breakerespecially adapted for an engine of an automobile, and has for theprimary object the provision of an efficient and inexpensive device ofthis character which may be readily installed in an ignition circuitincluding an engine starter circuit for automatically breaking theignition circuit when the engine stops from any cause while the usualignition switch is closed and which will permit starting of the engineas usual by the electric starter, thus obviating any possibility ofinjury or damage to any of the electric equipment of the ignitioncircuit caused by the ignition circuit remaining closed during anextended period of idleness of the engine.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts tobe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a portion of an engine ofan automobile equipped with an automatic ignition circuit breakerconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the breakerwith the cover of the casing removed.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the breaker showing the mounting of theelectro-magnet and vacuum actuated diaphragm of the circuit breakerwithin the casing.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatical View illustrating the wiring diagram of anignition circuit with the present invention connected therein.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates afragmentary portion of an internal combustion engine of the typeemployed for the propulsion of an automobile and 6 indicates the intakemanifold of said engine. A fragmentary portion of the ignition system ofthe engine is indicated by the character I in which the high tensioncoil is shown at 8 connected to a ground 9, as shown at l0, and to acircuit breaker I I forming a part of the present invention and whichincludes spaced contacts l2 connected to the coil 8 by a conductor l3and a switch arm l4 movable into and out of engagement with the spacedcontacts [2 by the flexation thereof. The switch arm I4 is shown asmounted on a bracket I5. The invention further includes an electromagnetl6 arranged at one side of the switch arm M for flexing the latter intoengagement with one of the contacts I2 when energized. Theelectro-magnet is connected to a ground I! by conductors I8. The bracketI5 is connected to one terminal of the battery I9 of the ignitioncircuit while the other terminal of the battery is connected to a ground20. The usual ignition switch 2| is connected into the conductor 22which connects the bracket l5 to one of the terminals of the battery IQfor the purpose of controlling the circuit of the battery to the coil 8.The electro-magnet is also has connected thereto a conductor 23 which isconnected to one terminal of a starter switch 24 shown mounted on thestarter 25 of the engine 5. The other terminal of the starter switch 24is connected to the conductor 22 by a conductor 26.

The electro-magnet l6, contacts l2 and switch arm I4 are mounted in asuitable casing 21 and the latter may be installed on any suitable placeupon the automobile, preferably upon the engine compartment partition 28which is arranged between said compartment and the drivers compartmentof the automobile.

A lever 29 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 39 arranged in the casing21 with the lever located on an opposite side of the switch arm M fromthe electro-magnet. Formed on the switch arm 14 is an extension or arm3| which is pivoted to the free end of the lever 29. Pivoted to thelever 29 substantially intermediate the ends thereof is an attaching arm32 secured to a diaphragm 33 mounted in a diaphragm housing 34. Thediaphragm housing includes a vacuum chamber 35 and in communicationtherewith is a substantially L-shaped pipe 36. The L-shaped pipe issecured to the diaphragm housing and to the casing 21 for supporting thediaphragm and diaphragm housing in proper position within said casing21. A pipe 3'! connects the pipe 36 to the intake manifold 6 so thatwhenever the engine is in operation a partial vacuum is developed in thevacuum chamber 35 for flexing the diaphragm 33 upwardly which flexes theswitch arm [4 upwardly into engagement with the uppermost contact shownin Figure 4 and with the ignition switch 2| in a closed position thecircuit to the engine or the coil 8 thereof is completed. The normalposition of the switch arm I4 is between the pair of contacts l2.

As long as the engine is in operation the switch arm [4 remains inengagement with the uppermost contact. However, should the engine stopfrom any cause and the ignition switch 2| be left in circuit closingposition, the diaphragm 33 returns to normal position permitting theswitch arm to assume a position out of engagement with the uppermostcontact thereby breaking the ignition circuit. With the ignition circuitbroken as specified the engine may be again started by the actuation ofthe starter switch 24 which when in a closed position completes theelectric circuit to the electromagnet, energizing the latter so that itwill attract the switch arm 14 and move the latter into engagement withthe lower contact I2 in Figure 4, completing the ignition circuit to thecoil 8 and when the engine starts under its own power the starter switch24, as usual, is allowed to assume a circuit-breaking position whichdeenergizes the electro-magnet H3. The engine being in operation flexesthe diaphragm 33 to automatically move the switch arm 14 in engagementwith the uppermost contact still maintaining the ignition circuit to thecoil closed. Thus it will be seen that if the engine is stalled orstopped from any cause and the operator permits the ignition switch toremain closed the ignition circuit will be automatically broken throughthe use of this invention and thereby obviate any possibility of theelectric equipment of the ignition system of the automobile engine frombeing damaged or injured, it being understood that the ignition circuitcan be manually controlled at any time desired through the operation ofthe ignition switch 2|.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings,

the casing includes a removable cover plate so that access to theinterior of the casing can be had at any time necessary.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connectionwith the drawings, will fully set forth the construction and advantagesof this invention to those skilled in the art to which such a devicerelates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

In combination with an engine having an intake manifold and an ignitioncircuit for the engine including a manually operated ignition switch andan electric starter circuit having a starter switch, an automatic switchelectrically connected in said ignition circuit for breaking theignition circuit during a period of idleness of the engine with theignition switch in a closed position and having a pair of circuitclosing positions, said automatic switch including a flexible switcharm, an electro-magnet connected in the starter circuit for operatingthe switch arm into one of the circuit closing positions any time thatthe starter switch is closed, a diaphragm casing, a diaphragm in saidcasing and providing therein a vacuum chamber, means for connecting thevacuum chamber of the diaphragm casing to the intake manifold, and meansfor connecting the diaphragm. to the svitch arm for moving the latterinto the other circuitclosing position during the operation of theengine.

KENNETH A. GILL.

